2 USC students shot to death near campus

Don Frances

Share

Police are investigating a murder scene near the University of Southern California campus this morning after two USC students were shot and killed in an apparent attempted robbery.

CBS reports that the shooting happened at 1 a.m. today on the 2700 block of Raymond Avenue near West 27th Street. The students, who have not been identified, were sitting in a BMW when they were approached by an armed man who told them to exit the car, according to police.

When the man in the car refused, he was shot point-blank in the head, police say.

New information from police suggest that the conflict may have been a bungled robbery, not a carjacking. Either way, the LAPD recommends not to put up a fight.

“We don’t know this to be the case, but if someone tries to take your car and somebody’s armed, then giving up your car is a lot better, a lot easier than giving up your life, unfortunately. But again, we don’t know if that’s the case here – this may have just been a random act of violence,” LAPD spokesman Commander Andrew Smith said.

The woman was also shot and killed. Both victims were in their 20s and said to be international students from China.

An ABC report indicates that several shots were fired: “Police say there were several bullet holes in the car, and the driver's side window was shattered.”

The shooter left the BMW and drove away in a dark-colored vehicle. Even though there were several witnesses to the shooting, it was too dark to get a good description of him, according to police.